NMS Student Writes And Directs Play

By Susan Coney

Eighth grade Newtown Middle School student Cristin Carlin took it upon herself to write and direct a play, which was performed for one night only to a very receptive audience. “I felt like doing something other than the musical Charlie Brown that the Newtown Middle School drama club did. I wanted to do a drama and direct my peers in it,” Cristin said.

Her play entitled Sleepin’ Pretty was entirely written and directed by Cristin, under the supervision of Newtown Middle School teachers Susan Lang and Jennifer Sinal. The play took place on Wednesday, June 1, in the middle school auditorium and drew quite a crowd.

Ms Sinal commented, “The kids worked very hard; they worked well together and learned a lot. They literally did the entire thing, from soup to nuts. I give Cristin a lot of credit. She not only wrote the play but handled a tough job directing her peers.”

Classmate and dancer Molly Day said, “We all had to audition and dance too. It was so much fun hanging out with our friends and being directed by our friend. So it’s all our own. At the end of each rehearsal we would sit down and Cristin would tell us how we could improve our performance; like talk slower or louder.”

Ms Lang and Ms Sinal congratulated Cristin on her successful first foray into theatrical direction and wished her luck in her bright future. Both commented that it was a pleasure to work with Cristin.